Letter Calls For Removal Of Outsiders’ Newtown “Tribute” Pages

Connecticut’s two U.S. Senators and the Congresswoman representing Newtown are asking Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg to remove unofficial “tribute” Facebook pages to the victims of the December shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

In the letter, Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy and Representative Elizabeth Esty say many of the pages give the appearance of being created by loved ones in the names of the victim, but instead, they say the pages have become what they call “vehicles for harassment, intimidation and possibly financial fraud.” They quote the Greenwich Time, which cays more than 100 tribute pages have been created using the name of teacher Victoria Soto, one of those killed Dec. 14.

The three point to Facebook’s own terms of service, which state accounts may not be created for anyone else without permission, and which bar content which infringes on another person’s rights, or which violates the law.

The letter complains that the pages provide a platform for their creators to violate the privacy of grieving families, or to solicit donations under false pretenses, or to generate Facebook “likes” for marketing purposes.